2 F/A-18C havarerer i Stillehavet

12 September 2014 Last updated at 14:43 GMT

Two US Navy F/A-18C Hornets crash on Pacific operations

 

An investigation is underway into why the two F/A-18C Hornets crashed into the Pacific

Two US Navy jets have crashed into the western Pacific Ocean, with one pilot still missing, the Navy has said.

The F/A-18C Hornets were operating off the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson when they came down.

The rescued pilot is receiving medical attention aboard the ship and a search effort is underway to find the second, the navy said.

The two jets, which cost $57m (£35m) each, have not been recovered.

The cause of the incident is under investigation, the navy said in a statement.

The search for the second pilot is being conducted by the guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill, guided-missile destroyer USS Gridley, and a number of helicopters.

The planes were flying in the US 7th Fleet's area of responsibility, which stretches west from the International Date Line to the India-Pakistan border.